Briton faces US terror charges

A British resident held in Guantanamo has been charged with terrorism offences, a legal charity said today.

Binyam Mohamed, 29, from London, denies any wrongdoing but has said there is no prospect of a fair trial.

The case will now be referred to the US Military Commissions' Convening Authority, which has 30 days to decide whether to press ahead with the charges.

Legal action charity Reprieve confirmed: "The Department of Defence is asking for charges to be filed against British resident and Reprieve client Binyam Mohamed.

"Mr Mohamed is indeed being charged, but we are unable to supply further detailed information until the Pentagon officially produces the charge sheet of allegations against him."

Mohamed is the last remaining Guantanamo detainee with a right to return to the UK.

Last year, three British residents held at Guantanamo Bay were flown home and a fourth was transferred to Saudi Arabia.

Earlier it emerged Mohamed had written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown to plead for his release. He fears he could face the death penalty if convicted of terrorism offences, the Independent reported.

Human rights lawyer and Reprieve director Clive Stafford Smith, said: "I visited Binyam in Guantánamo just a week ago, and he is in a very bad state. Surely the least the British Government can do is insist that no British resident be charged in a kangaroo court based on evidence tortured out of him with a razor blade."

Reprieve accused the US Department of Defence of being in a "rush to charge as many people as possible in Guantanamo Bay prior to President (George) Bush leaving office".